Burn refreshes wetlands

A crew led by Baker University biology professor Roger Boyd on Tuesday conducted a controlled burn at the Baker Wetlands.

The burning prevents trees, shrubs and sunflowers from overtaking the wetland’s prairie grasses.

“Historically, there wouldn’t be any trees here because the prairie would have burned, on average, two out of every five years,” Boyd said after last year’s burn. “So burns like this are part of the natural process.”

Above, Boyd watches as a hawk drifts with the billowing smoke.

Courts: Teen competent for trial in November shooting

A Lawrence teen charged with attempted murder is competent to stand trial, an evaluation found.

Antonio E. Floyd, 19, is able to understand his court proceedings and able to assist in his defense, according to a report this month by Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center.

Floyd’s attorney, Ken McRae, asked for the evaluation because he said his client was hearing voices and having trouble sleeping.

Floyd faces felony charges of attempted murder, aggravated intimidation of a witness and aggravated burglary, plus a misdemeanor charge of sexual battery.

Prosecutors allege that on Nov. 5, he shot a woman four times at her home in the 1500 block of Haskell Avenue because he thought she was going to be a witness against him in a federal cocaine-dealing case.

Floyd is serving a 17-year term for the federal crime.

Auto sales: State revokes licenses of tax-delinquent dealers

Topeka — State officials have revoked the licenses of three Kansas City, Kan.-area car dealers for failing to turn in sales taxes after an audit found that millions of dollars in motor vehicle taxes hadn’t been paid.

Kansas Secretary of Revenue Joan Wagnon said the license revocations against Kansas City, Kan., dealers KC Truck Mart and Young’s Enterprises and Best Import Auto in Olathe were part of an effort to crack down on dealers who were not remitting sales taxes collected from car buyers.

A recent audit found some dealerships in Kansas had failed to remit sales taxes for years, and the state was getting cheated on taxes in thousands of private car sales between individuals.